Safer Return at Cal Poly Pomona

COVID Vaccination or Weekly Testing Required Starting August 16

Date: 7/27/21
To: Faculty and Staff
From: CPP Employee and Org Devel & Advancement 
Subject: COVID Vaccination or Weekly Testing Required Starting August 16

Dear Colleagues, 

Following the California State University (CSU) system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement announced earlier today, Cal Poly Pomona will require all students and non-represented employees (MPPs, confidential staff, and student employees) to upload their vaccination record into MyHealthPortal by August 16. After this date, students and non-represented employees coming to campus who are not fully vaccinated or who have not verified their vaccination record will be required to be tested for COVID-19 at least weekly. 

The CSU has announced a deadline of September 30 for students and non-represented employees to verify their vaccination record OR request a medical or religious exemption. After September 30, those individuals participating in on-campus activities who are not in compliance with CSU policy may face disciplinary action. 

For represented faculty and staff, the CSU Chancellor’s Office will soon provide additional clarification on the details and timing of the policy implementation following the conclusion of the meet and confer process. 

We are providing details about this requirement, including how to upload your vaccine record, how to seek a vaccination exemption, and what the public health testing program will entail. 

Uploading Your Vaccination Record  

Visit the Safer Return website for instructions on uploading your vaccination record. Please note that it may take 3 to 10 business days for your record to be verified, so we encourage you to upload your record as soon as possible. If you have IT-related questions about the upload process, email myhealthportal@cpp.edu. 

Seeking a Vaccination Exemption 

Employees and students may seek an exemption to the vaccination requirement based on medical or religious grounds. Those who receive an exemption and come to campus will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing starting August 16. 

  • Employees seeking an exemption based on medical grounds should contact Manuel Montilla, ADA Coordinator, at ADACoordinator@cpp.edu or 909-869-4095.   
  • Employees seeking an exemption based on a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance may contact the Office of Equity and Compliance at officeofequity@cpp.edu or 909-869-4646. 

Public Health Testing for COVID-19 

Public health officials recommend that colleges and universities implement a public health testing program to detect, monitor, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 on campus. Testing is one step in the university’s Health and Safety Plan for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. 

Starting August 16, weekly testing will be required of all employees and students whose vaccination record is not verified, or who are not fully vaccinated, or who have received a medical or religious exemption. The implementation of the testing program may be altered for specific represented employee units subject to the meet and confer process. Fully vaccinated individuals whose vaccination record has been verified will be exempt from testing, unless otherwise required by CPP policy, or by local, state, or federal health authorities. 

Details about the on-campus testing program will be announced in August and also posted on Safer Return’s Testing webpage. 

If you aren’t vaccinated, we urge you to visit MyTurn to find a walk-in location or make an appointment. Vaccines are widely available throughout the region, and they are the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our campus community. 

If you have questions about the CSU’s vaccination requirement or CPP’s COVID-19 testing program, please contact saferreturn@cpp.edu.  

Kimberly G. Allain 
AVP, Employee & Organizational Development & Advancement 
Division of Administrative Affairs 

Laura Massa 

AVP, Academic Programs 
Division of Academic Affairs